Well its been a long first day _ 6 hours out of house but I survived! Lot of sitting around but it went very quick. So surprised how long chemo bit actually lasts about ten minutes! I did get a lovely leek and potato soup, sandwich, yoghurt and chocolate cake for lunch so can't grumble they do look after you!
I did have problems with my medication as it was all given to me last week at pharmacy with no instructions or how to take them just gave me the large bag full! Included anti sickness, diarrhea med and cream.
I didnt realise there were two different strengths of the chemo tablets at first thought I just took two twice a day. There were two boxes but I thought all same until I looked closely and saw some 500 gm and others 150 gm so thought must take two of each twice a day! Had to take them before I went today so was hoping I was right.
The nurse first said you shouldnt have taken those before you come we give them to you to start tonight! Anyway when she checked it out I was to take them so I took the correct amount luckily! She hasnt come across this regime before.
There was a right fuss about how I hadnt been told by pharmacy or the nurse who rang me friday how to take the tablets and looks like its being investigated. She said we have to go through a checklist with you eg not to touch the tablets etc.
Also when I checked the tablets i'd not been given enough I only got 80 of each and should have been 112 of each! The pharmacist had given me 20 days supply instead of 28 days as he took off the weekends of the 28 days when they had already been taken off!
I have also been given 38 days of one tablet a day antibiotic Levofloxacin and wondered if others had had this too and it was normal practice. Seems odd giving antibiotics when no infection. I'm not used to taking so many tablets!! Will take these at lunchtime to spread them out!
Okay so far 27 days to go!
Hi Carole21,
Thats all pretty shocking about the lack of direction you’ve been given especially around the oral chemo!! You’re dealing with some really toxic meds that can have quite awful side effects if not taken correctly!! I was given my chemo tablets only after I’d had my infusion of mitomycin the morning of my first day of treatment, so no oral chemo on the morning just the infusion & was told, even before they issued my meds, to take 2 tablets in the evening then following that first day they had to be taken twice daily with at least 10 hours between doses Monday through Friday with none at all on a Saturday or Sunday. I was given a stock of the little paper cups that they give you your meds in at hospital & told not to touch the capecitabine tablets, I had to pop them straight out of the blister packs into a paper cup, straight into my mouth washed down with a large glass of water.
I was given anti sickness & told to take one each morning to combat any nausea but after taking the first lot that was prescribed I found I didn’t need them as there was little to no nausea & my appetite was good. I was given a basic aqueous cream by my radiotherapy team to moisturise each day & they told me they had other creams for me should I need them.
I definitely wasn’t prescribed any antibiotics, I had bloods done each Monday in clinic & was given a number to ring should I suspect I had a temperature or the beginnings of any infections, then I think antibiotics would have been issued as a precaution. Have you been told to start the antibiotics now or have they just been prescribed as a matter of caution so that if you do spike a temperature then you could start them straight away?
I hope you’ve now been given some proper direction. Personally also I’d be making my oncologist aware of the lack of information you received concerning the administration of your medication.
Nicola
